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Jesus Speaks His Final Words. It Is Finished.

    Mark 15:34-41

    Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”[a]

    35 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!”

    37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

    39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

    40 Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. 41 They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.

    This event is also mentioned here:

    Matthew 27:45-56

    Luke 23:44-49

    John 19:28-37

    A Step Further: The Significance of the Curtain Tearing

    Jesus knew how important the details were. Before he died, he made sure to draw attention to the details… details that would be recognized by those present at his crucifixion… details that would be recognized 2000 years later.

    Matthew 27:50-52, “Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.”

    Why was that detail so important to know? Why was it so important to record that a curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was “torn in two from top to bottom” when Jesus died?

    In the Old Testament, God’s earthly presence lived in the Temple of Jerusalem within a room called the Holy of Holies. This room, containing the presence of God, was separated from the rest of the Temple and the people by a massive, heavy curtain that couldn’t be ripped with your bare hands. Exodus 26:31 and Exodus 36:35 tells us this curtain was woven from the “finest of linen, finely decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and skillfully embroidered cherubim.” The curtain was a symbol of the sin that separated the people from God. No one could go into God’s presence except for the High Priest who went once a year to atone, or make amends, for the sins of the people through a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, the word “atonement” means “to cover.” God would cover the sins of the people for another year but the sins wouldn’t be removed.

    When we come to the final day Jesus was hanging on the cross, God tells us the moment Jesus, the perfect willing sacrifice breathed his last breath, the curtain separating us from God was torn from top to bottom.

    There was no mistaking God’s intention.

    Anyone could be confused by a tiny rip.

    God intentionally split the curtain in two to show we are no longer separated from one another! We now have free access to God because our sin was completely removed by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.

    1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity – the man Christ Jesus.”

    God made sure we’d know without a shadow of a doubt that we can be in His presence any time we want, anywhere we want. He’s only a prayer away.

    Meet The Tour Guides
    John Lawhon

    There’s no pretense with John. He’s the real deal: a “girl dad,” pickleball champ, and he loves making the Bible easy and accessible. Listen to John weekdays on BRIGHT-FM Mornings with John & Tiffanie.

    BRIGHT-FM Mornings
    Meet The Tour Guides
    Pat Linnell

    It’s Pat’s 20+ years in pastoral ministry that sparked Grace Bomb: a movement of no-strings-attached acts of love inspired by Jesus (it’s as fun as it sounds!). As a pastor and author, he’s passionate about putting that kind of love into action.

    Learn about Grace Bomb

    A Step Further written by Erin Branham. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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